Brief History of Steroids: A Timeline

With so many issues on steroids, does anybody wonder why steroids become so popular? How does steroids came into existence? Is it thru an in-depth research or just by mere discovery? From the different sources on the internet as well as other publications and journals, steroids were so popular because of its effects and the issues that always come with it. Whether we treat steroids as a harmful drug or a pill that gives many benefits to its users, a better understanding is a must.

This will serve as a guide in understanding of what these steroids can do or will do to its users. The purpose of creating these steroids and its beginnings will probably change our perception to this drug.

Here's a timeline of the discovery and development of steroids. The issues and people who contributed to the advancement of steroids are also presented:

1849 - A scientist named Berthold conducted an experiment on cockerels by removing their testicles. The bird lost several of its male characteristics including sexual functions. It was in this experiment that they found out that testicles had a systemic effect on the entire organism. It has an effect on the blood of the animals experimented.

1929 - Another experiment was conducted to produce an extract of potent activity from bull's testicles.

1935 - A more purified form of the extract from bull’s testicles was created.

1936 - Scientist Ruzicka synthesized the compound, the testosterone from cholesterol. Two other scientists also conducted the same experiment, Butenandt and Hanisch.

- the first testosterone was created and used in an experiment demonstrating that nitrogen excretion of the castrated dog could be increased by giving the dog supplemental testosterone thus increased its body weight.

- the Nazi's were also rumored that they have given their soldiers anabolic steroids

- in this period testosterone was already considered as a potent anabolic substance in humans. This was proven by further experiments that were carried out in men.

1948 - 1954 - Searle and Ciba, both pharmaceutical companies had experimented with the synthesizing of more than a thousand different testosterone derivatives and similar analogues.

1954 - This is the time where the use of steroids in sports began. The Soviets team was reported to have used steroids in the World Weightlifting Championships in Vienna, Austria. They dominated the competition and break several world records. They bought home several gold medals in different weight classes. It was John Zeigler, a physician who said to have a talk to the Soviets team doctor. And from that conversation he said that Soviets team used steroids.

1955 - John Zeigler began administering straight testosterone to his weightlifters. Ciba also attempted to synthesize a substance with strength enhancing effects comparable or better than testosterone's.

1956 - Methandrostenolone was created. "Dianobol" as a brand name came into existence.

1957 - 1959 - Many weightlifter's training program includes the use of "Dianobol".

1960 - The effects of the Dianobol in John Zeigler's weightlifters were very dominant. Another anabolic steroid had been developed and used to treat short stature in children with Turner Disease syndrome.

- at this period, many scientists and doctors began to conduct numerous studies on the effects of steroids to athletes. According to some studies it was noted that steroids did not clearly showed or offered any athletic benefit to the athletes. One of the issues was the doses given to the athletes as considered as very low doses which can't produce any effect at all.

1967- the International Olympic Council banned the use of anabolic steroids.

1970 - most major sporting organizations had also banned steroids.

1972 - the International Olympic Council began a full scale drug-testing program.

1982 - the International Olympic Council had developed a test for the detection of excess levels of testosterone in athletes, known as the "Testosterone: Epitestosterone test"

1988 - classification of steroids were only prescription drugs.

1989 - when information was leaked to the media about a government sponsored program of systematic anabolic steroid administration to its athletes and its concealment to the sports organization.

1990 - the Germans had finally gotten caught, and the ensuing scandal was one which helped give anabolic steroids the bad reputation they have had ever since.

- anabolic steroids had started to be used by the medical community to improve survival rates of AIDS and Cancer patients.

- the United States Congress added steroids to the Controlled Substances Act as an amendment known as the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990

2000 - survey among 12 graders were reported that 2.5% used steroids at least once in their lives.

2004 to present - there was an increase in the usage among young people. The statistics shows 3.4%

- anabolic steroids were continuously used by most weightlifters and bodybuilders

-the legitimate use of anabolic steroids for a variety of medical problems such as Andropause or Menopause, speeding recovery of burn victims, improve the quality of life in AIDS patients, fight breast cancer and control osteoporosis to name a few.

- the use of steroids in other sports such as baseball and athletics continue to rise. Famous athletes were charged of using illegal steroids such as Barry Bonds, a baseball player. Another olympian athlete, Marion Jones was also charged with similar offense.

Steroids continue to create history. It is not yet the end for this product. More and more researches are being done to enhance the composition of steroids. More companies are also producing brands that can pass the strict regulation of the government. We can say that steroids are safer now than before. People who are using it are now well informed and educated on the proper use of steroids thus maximizing the benefits that the user gets.